Opening credits are preceded by a dedication that reads, “For Gene Roddenberry.” Roddenberry, the creator of the Star Trek franchise, died 24 Oct 1991, just a few months before the film’s release.
       The film concludes with voice-over narration by William Shatner, as “Kirk” recites an entry in his log: “Captain’s log, stardate 9529.1. This is the final cruise of the starship Enterprise under my command. This ship, and her history, will shortly become the care of another crew. To them, and their posterity, will we commit our future. They will continue the voyages we have begun and journey to all the undiscovered countries, boldly going where no man—or no one—has gone before.”
       Following the disappointing critical and commercial reception of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989, see entry), Paramount Pictures hoped a sixth and final installment would restore the credibility of the series among fans while commemorating the franchise’s upcoming twenty-fifth anniversary in 1991. Items in the 24 Jun 1990 LAT and 14 Nov 1990 DV stated that writer-producer Harve Bennett and screenwriter David Loughery began developing a story intended as a prequel to the original Star Trek television series (NBC, 8 Sep 1966—3 Jun 1969), depicting how Kirk and his crewmates came together to command the “USS Enterprise.” After more than a year of consideration, Paramount and Roddenberry decided to pass on Star Trek VI: The First Adventure— also known as Starfleet Academy— in favor of a more appropriate final story for the original cast. Despite his longtime association with the franchise, Bennett was unwilling to compromise on the studio’s choice of direction and decided to walk away from the project altogether.
       According to the Apr 1992 issue of Cinefantastique, Roddenberry’s rapidly declining health and Bennett’s abrupt departure left the film in the hands of actor, writer, producer, and two-time Star Trek director Leonard Nimoy. Looking back on the two most acclaimed films in the series, Nimoy hired Nicholas Meyer, who directed Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982, see entry) and served as one of the screenwriters on Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1984, see entry). Nimoy pitched the story as an allegory for the Russian political movement, perestroika, and its topical relevance appealed to Meyer, whose current project, Company Business (1991, see entry), dealt with similar themes. Because Company Business was shooting in London, England, Meyer requested he be allowed to co-write the script with Denny Martin Flinn. According to Cinefantastique, early drafts included the return of “Lt. Saavik,” a role originated by Kirstie Alley in The Wrath of Khan. Although Alley was replaced by Robin Curtis in the third and fourth installments, Meyer hoped she would return. Unable to secure a commitment from the actress in time, he instead rewrote the character as “Lt. Valeris.” In an interview with the 30 Aug 1991 NYT, Meyer claimed he did not consider directing the project until he completed the screenplay.
       With an inflated budget of nearly $40 million, Paramount briefly put the picture into turnaround in early 1991. To reduce costs, producers Ralph Winter and Steven-Charles Jaffe, Meyer, Nimoy, and Shatner all agreed to exchange a portion of their upfront salaries for a percentage of the gross profits. The studio also saved $1 million by cutting the film’s prologue, which introduced each of the seven principal characters and gave a glimpse of their lives when not aboard the Enterprise. The total number of special effects shots was reduced by half, while several existing sets from the television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation (syndication, 28 Sep 1987—23 May 1994), were redressed as soon as the current season completed filming. On 13 Feb 1991, Paramount greenlighted the revised $26 million budget, on condition the film be ready for release by the end of the year.
       With just a few months left of pre-production, the filmmakers proceeded to fill the supporting roles with as many well-known actors as the budget would allow. According to Denny Martin Flinn, the character of “Martia” was written with Sigourney Weaver in mind, while Jack Palance was approached to play “Chancellor Gorkon.” However, both were considered too expensive, and the roles were filled by Iman and David Warner, respectively. Warner previously appeared as “St. John Talbot” in The Final Frontier, and starred in Meyer’s directorial debut, Time After Time (1979, see entry). Christian Slater, son of casting director Mary Jo Slater, makes a cameo appearance as an officer on the “USS Excelsior,” while Michael Dorn plays a “Klingon” defense attorney—the grandfather to his character, “Worf,” on The Next Generation. Kim Cattrall initially turned down the script under the impression that she would be the third actress to portray Lt. Saavik. She changed her mind, however, after learning that she would be playing an original character and have the opportunity to work with Meyer, whom she had met in 1985 on the set of Volunteers (see entry). According to the 1 Dec 1991 LAT, Cattrall chose her character’s name and made significant contributions to her “Vulcan” physicality.
       Nimoy reportedly expressed his displeasure with his makeup in previous films, and requested that makeup supervisor Michael J. Mills refashion “Spock’s” appearance to more closely resemble the original character design created by Fred B. Phillips for the television series. According to production notes in AMPAS library files, Mills and department head Ken Myers ran a workshop for more than fifty makeup artists at Richard Snell Designs, Inc., who were assigned to create Vulcan, Klingon, “Romulan,” and other alien prosthetics.
       Principal photography began 16 Apr 1991 in Los Angeles, CA, with a week of night shooting at Bronson Canyon Caves in Griffith Park. Production spent the next several weeks filming interiors on Stages 15, 5, 9, 8, and 14 at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood, followed by four days at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute in Simi Valley, CA, which doubled as “Camp Khitomer.” Meanwhile, Jaffe led a second unit crew and team of stand-ins to Alaska to film scenes set on the icy exterior of “Rura Penthe”. Cinefantastique indicated that production utilized additional locations near the Paramount studios in an effort to save money on set construction. Meyer shot the film in non-anamorphic Super 35, which allowed for increased framing flexibility. Production was completed in fifty-five days, two days over schedule.
       Although initially scheduled to open 13 Dec 1991, the release date was pushed up to 6 Dec 1991. According to the 30 Aug 1991 HR, exclusive footage was to be previewed at forty-four U.S. and Canadian theaters on 7 Sep 1991, as part of a twelve-hour marathon of the first five Star Trek films.
       The first public screening of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country took place 3 Dec 1991 at a benefit for the California League of Conservation Voters, for which Nimoy served as a co-chair, the 26 Nov 1991 DV reported. The following day, DV announced that the seven principal actors were scheduled to cement their autographs outside Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. In addition, the 5 Dec 1991 LAT stated that a special midnight screening at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, CA, was held that evening to help fund new astronomy exhibits at the Museum of Natural History.
       Reviews were largely positive, and the 11 Dec 1991 DV listed opening weekend earnings of $18,162,837, which surpassed the series’ three-day record previously held by The Final Frontier.
       The film received Academy Award nominations for Makeup and Sound Effects Editing.
       Modern sources indicate that the VHS and DVD home video release contained several minutes of added footage, including scenes of René Auberjonois as “Starfleet” officer “Colonel West,” who is revealed to be the assassin at the end of the film. Auberjonois went on to play “Constable Odo” in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (syndication, 3 Jan 1993—2 Jun 1999). The theatrical cut was released on Blu-ray in 2009.
       Despite audiences’ warm reception of The Undiscovered Country, several members of the original cast were reluctant to consider a seventh movie. As a result, the film series continued with four installments featuring the cast of The Next Generation: Star Trek: Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002, see entries). In addition to Deep Space Nine, the franchise retained its popularity on television with Star Trek: Voyager (UPN, 1995—2001) and Star Trek: Enterprise (UPN, 2001—2005). In 2009, filmmaker J. J. Abrams “rebooted” the original series for Star Trek (see entry) and two sequels, Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016, see entries).
       End credits begin with the signatures of George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, DeForest Kelley, Leonard Nimoy, and William Shatner. Acknowledgments state: “Star Trek® is the trademark of Paramount Pictures Corporation and is registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.”; and, “Special Thanks to: Alaska Film Commission, Alaska Helicopter Company, Dave Archer Studios, Proton, Pfaltzgraff, Durand International, Hydrel.”